Father's Secret - Softcover

Markwith, Peter George

Softcover

ISBN 10: 152060906X ISBN 13: 9781520609065

Publisher: Independently published, 2017

"With the carefully researched history of Newport architecture and society, Markwith has crafted a compelling mystery that evokes the political and social drama of 1960s New England. A quick pace and likable protagonists make this paranormal treasure hunt a delightful summer escape." — Kirkus Reviews. Annandale Farm's Armsea Hall, located in fashionable Newport, Rhode, once held the unique distinction of becoming the nation’s Summer White House...until Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Less than a year following JFK’s assassination, 14 year-old Eddie Sutton moves into the 40-room mansion, along with his father, stepmother and younger sister, Franny. On the day of their arrival, a series of paranormal incidents begins, with Down syndrome Franny serving as the conduit to a troubled specter’s cause. Adding to the intrigue, Eddie’s unconventional Aunt Julia shows up for an extended visit from New York City...and the mansion’s caretaker is soon found murdered in the greenhouse. Collaborating with two teenage friends, and the family’s devoted butler, Eddie launches into a freeform investigation that picks up steam during a visit to the Newport Historical Society. As the secrets of the mansion and the members of Eddie’s family converge, the collective power proves potent enough to alter the course of history, and change the fortunes of Eddie’s family, and his future, forever. Although the characters and plot of this mystery are fictional, Annandale Farm enjoys intriguing real-world history. In 1963, President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy signed a lease on the 15 acre, oceanfront estate whose perimeter once adjoined Hammersmith Farm – home of the First Lady’s mother and stepfather. The lease, along with plans for turning the house and grounds over to the Department of Interior for use as a permanent Summer White House were scrapped following JFK’s assassination. Several years later, the mansion was demolished. No new structure has ever been built on the original site of the historic Newport cottage, and the reasons behind its untimely demolition remain a riddle. Built in 1900 and designed by architect Francis Vinton Hoppin, Armsea Hall stood as a familiar landmark to boaters frequenting Narragansett Bay until its 1969 demolition. Presently, the house holds the number-one spot on the Preservation Society of Newport County’s website, "The Lost Houses of Newport" (http://www.newportmansions.org/learn/history-highlights/lost-newport/1896-1910).

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